Yankees-Orioles Preview

After getting word early Friday that Davis was suspended 25 games for using amphetamines, the Orioles will try to regroup in time for a day-night doubleheader that's particularly critical for the visiting New York Yankees' slim postseason hopes.

The Orioles have been dominant in winning eight of 11 from the Yankees and could have J.J. Hardy available Friday as they play the first half of this four-game set.

They won't have Davis, who will miss Baltimore's final 17 regular-season games and eight in the postseason should the Orioles (86-59) advance past the division series.

The Commissioner's office made the announcement Friday morning, saying Davis would be suspended without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine.

In a statement, Davis said: "I apologize to my teammates, coaches, the Orioles organization and especially the fans. I made a mistake by taking Adderall. I had permission to use it in the past, but do not have a therapeutic use exemption this year. I accept my punishment and will begin serving my suspension immediately."

The 2013 home run champion is batting .196 with 26 homers and 72 RBIs in 145 games.

"I'm disappointed," manager Buck Showalter said. "I l know Chris is too. It is what it is. We're going to try and deal with it and move on. The timing is never good. It's one of those challenges."

Now Baltimore, which leads second-place Toronto by 10 games with a magic number of eight, has to refocus for its final homestand. The Orioles have not clinched a division title at home since 1969.

"If that comes to be the potential for that to happen, that's so far away, if we're fortunate to have that day happen, then we can talk about it," Showalter said. "We've got a lot of roads to cross."

His club is 10 1/2 games ahead of third-place New York (75-69), which will be eliminated from AL East contention if it is swept.

The Yankees won 5-4 over Tampa Bay on Thursday in thrilling fashion. Chris Young delivered the game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning after New York did not have a hit until Young doubled with one out in the eighth.

Young is 6 for 11 with two homers and seven RBIs in his last three games for the Yankees, who are four games behind Detroit for the AL's second wild card.

"This team is not going to stop playing," manager Joe Girardi said. "We're not going to stop, we're going to keep going at it."

X-rays were negative on the left elbow of Derek Jeter, who was hit by a pitch there in the eighth. New York got a bigger scare in the ninth when Chase Headley was hit on the chin by a 98 mph fastball. His status is uncertain.